Historic Site Marketing & Events Intern - Woodlawn/Pope-Leighey House

PROJECT SUMMARY

Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is now in the midst of a rebirth—re-imagining itself as a more relevant community asset by re-activating its historic spaces and stories, all the while showcasing why the preservation of an undeniable cultural treasure matters. Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House has appealed primarily to traditional historic house visitors, but in the recent past and in the present, is now producing a range of new innovative program offerings, through socially relevant partnerships.

The Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House Marketing & Event Support Intern will support a new interpretive and landscape design-based symposium and exhibition to take place this Fall 2021, that will help the site design a blueprint for an outdoor, narrative-based art trail. This project will bring together artists, landscape designers, agriculturalists, architects, historians, place-makers and community activists to produce a template for what will be a contemporary art walk that will capture the site’s historic stories – dominated by farming, craft, art, architecture and social justice narratives – and the needs of its community.  

National Trust internships are temporary experiential learning opportunities with no expectation of employment at the conclusion of the internship.

For this internship, the National Trust is offering a stipend of $2000 to help offset expenses. The period of the internship would be from approximately June 7 to September 24, 2021, for approximately 15 hours per week (flexibility of hours and time frame is available).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most National Trust staff and interns will continue to work remotely for the foreseeable future (currently projected through August 2021). This internship can be performed primarily remotely, but proximity to Woodlawn is preferred to allow for periodic visits to the site.

DUTIES

• Assist with research, community outreach, design and marketing for the Symposium
• Assist with contacting and coordinating the logistics of symposium speakers and participants
• Assist with special event planning and implementation
• Intern will also be invited to be part of other exhibits and programming going on at the historic site during their tenure, and to interact with site staff and visitors regularly, both remotely and through periodic in-person meetings. 

EDUCATIONAL VALUE TO THE INTERN

The intern will gain experience under the mentorship of non-profit and museum professionals in an educational setting at one of the nation’s premiere historic house museums.  

The intern will also have the opportunity to participate in educational programming offered via the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s organization-wide internship program. Students may also be eligible for college or graduate school academic credit at the discretion of their institution.

Specifically, the intern will gain knowledge in the following areas:

• Special event coordination and planning
• Community outreach, promotion and media planning

At the end of the project the intern will connect with professional artists, landscape designers, agriculturalists, architects, historians, place-makers and community activists to produce a template for what will be a contemporary art walk which can be added to their professional portfolio in support of their future career pursuits.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Ability to work up to 15 hours a week for a four-month period is preferred.
• Basic analytical and problem solving skills, including issue identification and prioritization. Basic project-organization skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate and achieve results with supervision, including ability to interact professionally with key internal and external stakeholders as needed. Public contact and ability to work successfully in close proximity to others required.
• Strong organizational skills required, with ability to prioritize, multi-task efficiently, and meet deadlines in a timely fashion
• Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic work environment. Ability to work effectively with frequent interruptions required. Able to handle frequently changing and/or unscheduled tasks with accuracy.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Friendly and professional demeanor on the phone and in writing, with ability to speak and write clearly in English.
• Ability to work effectively with culturally diverse colleagues; connections to or experience helping to engage culturally diverse audiences and partners a plus. Bi-lingual language skills (especially English/Spanish) a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products required, including Outlook, Word and Excel. Familiarity with other software and social media tools a plus.
• Ability work effectively in a remote environment, maintaining productivity and communications to meet deadlines and goals, is required.
• Bachelor’s level studies (or equivalent years of experience) required; current or rising juniors, seniors or graduate students preferred. Studies or demonstrated interest in related subject matter preferred, including preservation, museums, African-American History/Studies, social justice and equity issues, marketing, arts & cultural exhibit design.